RATE IS LAND ONLY

Price per person
based on a minimum of 2 paying people

Euro 1.590,00 in double room

Euro 1.545,00 in triple room
Euro 1.990,00 in single room

DEPARTURE DATES 2009

FEATURED PROPERTIES USED

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS

INCLUSIONS

ITINERARY (7 nights/8 days):

Malta (2 nights)  

Taormina (3 nights) Agrigento (1 night) Palermo (1 night)

Day 1 (Saturday): Malta

Welcome to the warm, beautiful and pleasant island of Malta! Upon arrival at Malta airport please proceed through the Passport Control and collect your luggage inside the customs area. Driver will transfer you to hotel.

Day 2 (Sunday):  Malta
There are many temple sites around the Maltese Islands and our tour includes a visit to two important sites. We start with a visit to Hagar Qim. This temple site circa, 3300BC, is particularly interesting as it has the largest and heaviest megaliths, some weighing a staggering 20 tons. Hagar Qim is located in the south west of the island, surrounded by stunning scenery. Our second temple is the Tarxien Temple site, this was the first site to be scientifically excavated and it is unique as it has a complex of four temples on one site, spirals and animals in relief, the largest colossal statue in the world, 2.8 metres high known to be of the Goddess of Fertility. Our local guide will provide an insight to this interesting period with detailed on-site tours. You will also visit the Ghar Dalam cave, which means the 'dark cave'. Ghar Dalam is a huge cavern and a repository of fossilized dwarf elephants, hippopotami, gigantic land tortoises and other extinct species that roamed the island some 250,000 years ago. Evidence here shows that Malta was once connected to Sicily…A this stage our tour comes to an end and we return to your hotel. This afternoon is at leisure to explore the town on your own. (BB)

Day 3 (Monday): Malta/Catania/Taormina
Time to say goodbye to Malta while we are transferred to the airport/port. Independent flight (www.airmalta.com)/ferry to Catania, Sicily.  Upon arrival at

Catania airport/port you will meet the driver and transfer to your hotel in Taormina. (BB)

Day 4 (Tuesday):  Taormina/Syracuse/Taormina
Today we leave for Syracuse. Upon arrival we will visit the magnificent Archaeological Park where we will admire the 5th-century BC Greek Theatre, the stone quarries, the Roman Amphitheatre and the Paradise Quarry. Later we will walk through the island of Ortygia, the picturesque and densely built original center of Syracuse. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon we drive back to Taormina. (BB L)

Day 5 (Wednesday): Taormina
Today at leisure to relax, shop, explore or OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS (BB)

Day 6 (Thursday): Taormina/Piazza Armerina/Agrigento
Following breakfast, we will drive through the interior of Sicily to reach Piazza Armerina where we will view the ruins of the Roman Villa of Casale. The mosaics discovered here are celebrated among scholars of antiquity. This afternoon continue to Agrigento where we will visit the finest of all ancient Greek sites—the complete Doric Temples. Dinner at local restaurant. After dinner, we enjoy an orientation tour of Agrigento by night to admire the Illuminated Temples. (BB D)

Day 7 (Friday):  Agrigento/Marsala Winery/Salt Way Road/Erice/Palermo
Today we tour western Sicily and begin in Marsala. The town is the most famous wine producer on the entire island. Upon arrival, we transfer to a local winery and visit the cellars. Enjoy a Farewell Cocktail with snacks and wines. Following this visit, we reach the lovely Trapani province where we will admire the Salt Way Road and Sicilian windmills. Then continue on to the medieval hillside town of Erice. Upon arrival, walk through the town to reach the Castle built upon the remnants of the Venus Temple.  Afterwards, we stop at a local pastry shop to taste the typical marzipans and almond pastries. Time at leisure. This afternoon we will drive to Palermo for our last night in Sicily. (BB FC)

Day 8 (Saturday):  Palermo apt
Time to say goodbye to Sicily. Then transfer to Palermo airport. (BB)

Meal Legend: BB Buffet Breakfast L Lunch FC Farwell Cocktail D Dinner

FEATURED PROPERTIES USED:

featured properties used:

Malta: Hotel Corinthia Marina

Taormina: Hotel Miramare or Hotel Lido Caparena

Agrigento: Dioscuri Bay Palace Hotel  or Hotel della Valle

Palermo: Hotel Politeama or Hotel Mercure Palermo Centro or Hotel Residenza d'Aragona

Hotel may be substituted with similar category.

List of  Hotels will be advised 20 days before departure.

IMPORTANT: In order to guarantee all departures with a minimum of 2 clients, we operate this tour either with a Driver-Escort or Tour Director and driver.  We do not use licensed Local Guides for this tour.  Driver-Escort or Tour Director provide basic historical and site information preparing you to visit sites on your own.  They may not accompany you on your visit of the sites.

If you require licensed Local Guides, it is your responsibility to purchase on the spot (if available). 

We cannot arrange licensed Local Guide services for you in advance. 

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS:

OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS:

-(Wednesday) Etna Volcano experience by Jeep ride with light lunch at farmhouse

-(Wednesday) Etna Volcano experience with light lunch at Etna Winery

-(Wednesday) Taormina & Gourmet Cooking Course

OPTIONAL EXCURSION (Based on a minimum of 2 paying clients):

2) Etna Volcano experience by Jeep ride with light lunch at farmhouse 

2) Etna Volcano Jeep ride experience with light lunch at farmhouse

Day 5 (Wednesday) Taormina/Mount Etna in Jeep Ride/Taormina

Today  you will be picked up at your hotel by an off-road driver/escort and transferred to Etna Volcano. You will enjoy a lovely Jeep experience through the Etna area: Mount Fontana (view of Bove Valley), the Thieves Cave (grotta dei ladroni), extinct craters of Sartorius Mounts, and lava flow from the 2002 eruption. Light lunch at a farmhouse to taste typical Sicilian dishes. Off-road drive along the Linguaglossa-Castiglione and Alcantara Gorges area. This afternoon return to Taormina hotel. (L)

RATE PER PERSON: Euros 110,00

What is Included:

ü One collective jeep ride to Etna Volcano with pick-up and drop-off at Taormina hotel

ü Basic English speaking jeep driver as per program

ü  One light lunch at farmhouse in Etna district, 3 course menu including water and local wine

üAll sightseeing and excursions as specified in the itinerary

üCity Taxes

What Is Not Included:

üGratuities to jeep driver

OPTIONAL EXCURSION (Based on a minimum of 2 paying clients):

3) Etna Volcano experience with light lunch at Etna Winery

3) Etna Volcano experience with light lunch at Etna Winery

Day 5 (Wednesday) Taormina/Mount Etna Winery/Taormina

A short drive takes us to the main visitor elevation on the slopes of Mt. Etna.  Those interested in experiencing the Etna craters will have the option to purchase cable car tickets on the spot (weather and volcanic conditions permitting)to experience the lava fields and incredible landscape view from Europe’s highest and most active volcano on their own. Then to a winery and farmhouse.  This estate also produces olive oil, grappa, sparkling wine and artisan food.  We indulge in a typical Sicilian light lunch at the farmhouse.

This afternoon, back to Taormina. (L)

RATE PER PERSON: Euros 75,00

What is Included:

ü One visit to Sicilian cellars with Sicilian wine tasting

üDeluxe vehicle/coach with air conditioning

üEnglish speaking Tour Director/Driver as per program

üOne light lunch at winery/farmhouse with tasting of typical Etna dishes

ü All sightseeing, tasting and excursions as specified in the itinerary

üCity Taxes

What Is Not Included:

üGratuities to Driver/Tour Director

üBasic Etna cable car ride payable directly on the spot

ü Etna cable car ride + crater Jeep ride + Alpine guide ticket payable on the spot

üBeverages not specified

OPTIONAL EXCURSION (Based on a minimum of 2 paying clients):

4) Taormina & Gourmet Cooking Course

4) Taormina Gourmet Cooking Course

Day 5 (Wednesday) Taormina Gourmet Cooking Course

(h 9:00AM - h 1:00PM)

This morning independently transfer to a local restaurant in Taormina where we are greeted by Chef Antonio Orlando and Chef Donna Maria. A brief walk takes us to an open air market where we'll purchase fresh fruit, vegetables and all the ingredients necessary for the cooking course. Then back to the restaurant to start cooking. At the end of the cooking course, we will enjoy our scrumptious creations with the perfect compliment—a beautifully paired Sicilian wine.  Dessert follows accompanied by a typical local Dessert wine. (L)

RATE PER PERSON: Euros 110,00 per person

What is Included:

üOne gourmet cooking course

üOne lunch at the local restaurant to taste your creations

üBeverage: water, ½ bottle local wine, dessert wine

üAll sightseeing and tasting as specified in the itinerary

üCity taxes

What Is Not Included:

üGratuities

ü Round trip restaurant transfers

DEPARTURE DATES 2009

DEPARTURE DATES 2009

What is Included:

What is Included:

ü       One main round trip airport transfer for Malta and Sicily

ü       Malta: Two nights accommodation

ü       Taormina: Three nights accommodation

ü       Agrigento: One night accommodation

ü       Palermo: One night accommodation

ü       Daily continental breakfast buffet

ü       Farewell Cocktail and snacks at Marsala winery

ü       One visit to Sicilian cellars with Sicilian wine tasting

ü       Vehicle/coach with air conditioning, no toilet

ü       English speaking Tour Director/Driver as per program

ü       All sightseeing, tasting and excursions as specified in the itinerary

ü       One lunch at local restaurant in Syracuse

ü       One dinner at local restaurant in Agrigento

ü       Hotel & city taxes

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